Girihandu Seya, Buddhist temple in Thiriyai, Sri Lanka
Girihandu Seya is a Buddhist temple set on a hilltop in the Trincomalee District of Sri Lanka, where a central stupa sits inside a circular stone enclosure. Stone pillars arranged in concentric rings define the sacred area and give the site a clear, ordered layout.
Tradition holds that the temple was founded by two merchants, Trapusa and Bahalika, who are said to have built the first Buddhist stupa on the island here. Stone inscriptions found on site link the place to early rulers and confirm its age as one of the oldest Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka.
Buddhist pilgrims from across Sri Lanka travel to this hilltop to pray and make offerings at the stupa. You will often see people sitting in quiet devotion around the stone pillars, which frame the shrine in a way that feels ancient and deliberate.
Reaching the shrine requires climbing a set of stone steps, so comfortable footwear is a good idea. As in all Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, shoulders and knees should be covered, and shoes must be removed before entering the sacred area.
Sanskrit inscriptions near the temple date to the reign of King Silamegha and are among the rare examples of that script found in Sri Lanka. These carved stones are considered some of the earliest written records of Buddhist practice on the island.
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